Dispenser



F. E. RICE oct. 15, 1935.

DISPENSER Filed April 14, 1934 Ww" Wmv Patented. Oct. l5, 1935 PATENT OFFICE :,ormsa Y nrsPENsEa Frank E. Rice, Detroit, Mich., assigner to American Tap-Bush Company, Detroit., Mich., a corporation o! Michigan Application April 14, 1934, serial'N. '120,503 s claim. (o1. c25-3) 'I'he'present invention relates to dispensers and will be described herein as a dispenser for small kegs and barrels oi.' liquor, such as beer, commonly known as eighthV barrels, or kegs.

Eighth barrels or kegs are utilized by home owners for dispensing barreled beer in small quantities. It is disadvantageous for home owners to provide themselves with the usual tapping mechanism such as employed by bars and the like for dispensing beer in large quantities.

. The present invention is directed to combination of an eighth barrel or keg and a dispenser which dispenser is applied to the keg at the brewery and supplied with the keg delivered to y the user at his home, which dispenser may be utilized for the draw small amounts. s

The assembly of the present invention contemplates a. collapsible faucet which is folded against a head of the keg in position to be free of damage or harm by reason of the handling of the keg and which may be extended for use for discharging the contents of the keg. In utilizing the dispenser of the present invention, it is necessary onlyto break the seal and open the Valve for discharging the contents of the keg.

An object of the present invention is to provide dispensers for eighth barrels which may be applied to the barrels at the brewery and supplied with the barrels to the consumer and which dispensers are readily adaptable for use when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide `a dispenser` for a beer keg so constructed as to be movableout of the way when not in use and to be extended' for use when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for beer kegs and the like which is economical to manufacture and efficient in use, and which may be readily applied to or removed from a keg by a simple twisting movement.

g oi beer from the keg in A still further object of the invention has to do with the provision oi',a novel dispensing valve structure for beer barrels and the like. Generally speaking the dispenser of the present invention contemplates one which may be used in conjunction with a tap bush'of well known form and which dispenser is provided with means `whereby pressure may be created within the keg, together with valve means for controlling outilow of the contents of the barrel when desired.

An embodiment or the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and the 'y views thereoiI are as follows:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an eighth keg provided with the dispenser of the present invention, showing in full lines the dispenser in collapsed position, and in dotted lines two positions of the spout for dispensing purposes. 5

Figure 2 is a fragmental vertical sectional view through an eighth keg showing the dispenser of the present invention thereon in extended position for discharging the contents of the keg.

Eigure '3 is a vertical sectional vie'wtaken sub- 10 stantially in the plane of line III-IIl of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the valve body and valve barrel oi' 'the illustrated form of dispenser.

The drawing will now be explained: 15

An eighth keg or barrel I is illustrated as constructed of wood although, of course, the present dispenser is as applicable to a steel keg as to a wooden keg.

A head 2 is provided with a known form, that herein illustrated being the well known Peerless tap bush. The faucet or dispenser structure comprises a valve body 4 having a bore through it which is illustrated as tapered as at 5. The bore extends from end to end o1' the head portion of the valve body. A boss 6 is formed as part ofthe valve body and is threaded at Tto engage the threaded portion of a bottom lug member 8 which is adapted to cooperate with the tap bush 3 in securing the dispenser to a keg. The boss 6 is provided with an extension 9 and the` boss and extension are formed with a bore or passageway I0 through it, which bore communicates with the bore 5 of the valve body I. Alongside of vand spaced from the bore I0 is another and smaller bore II passing through the boss and extension Sand which is spaced axially with respect to the bore Il). This bore II also communicates with the bore 5 of the valve body and end of the extension 9 of the boss.

A pipe or rod I2 is secured in theextension 9 and communicates with the bore IIJ and is illustrated as in threaded engagement with the extension. The rod or pipe I2 is provided with a 45 tap bush 3 or well 20 opens through the inner 40* cave.

is at all times in its lowermost position with respect to thev end of the rod I2.- The purpose of the slidable fitting is to accommodate the rod to eighth kegs of varying heightssto assure. at all times, that the lower end of the fitting is against the bottom of the keg to assure withdrawal of all of the contents of the keg through the rod I2. The under side ofthe valve body 4 is provided with a swivel washer I1 suitably secured in position and which washer on its under face is. com The swivel washer I1 engages against a sealing ring I8 surrounding the extension 9 of the valve body 4 and which is adapted to engage against the upper surface of the collar portion of the tap bush 3 in the usual manner. The valve body 4 is attached to the tap bush 3 by means of the bottom lug member 8 vwhereupon the body member 4 is screwed toward the tap bush to tighten the valve body against the bush and thus assure a leak tight joint between the valve body and the bush. During such action the concave surface of the swivel washer I1 tends to bend the sealing ring .I8 against the curved upper surface of the collarV or neck of the tap bush and thus increase the sealing effect at this point. The sealing member I8 is dished when the parts are connected together for use.

Within the bore 5 of the valve body 4 is a valve member I9, tapered to conform to the taper of the bore 5. Extending inwardly from the larger end of the taper is a bore 28 and extending inwardly from the opposite end of the valve member I9 is another bore 2|. 'I'he bores 28 and 2I are axially separated by means of a partition 22 thus maintaining these bores out of communication with each other.

The extremity of the valve member I9 adjacentA the smaller end is threaded to receive a nut 23 which bears against a spring-like washer 24 which in turn bears against a disc washer 25 for maintaining the valve member I9 in position in the valve body 4. Secured to the barrel valve member I9 outwardly of the smaller end thereof is an air valve 26 of the character of a bicycle tire valve which is clos'ed by a cap 21 of well known form.

The barrel valve member I9 is provided with a port 28 extending laterally from the bore 2| and openingv through the surface of the valve member I9 while another port 29 is formed in the valve member I9 to afford communication between the bore 28 of the valve member and the bore I8 of the valve body 4. The ports v218 and 29 are axially spaced with respect to each other and also angularly spaced with respect to each other.

The ports 28 and 29 are angularly or circumferentially spaced in such manner that when either port is in flow communication with its bore II or I8 in the valveA body the other port is out of ow communication with its body bore. no time are both ports 28 and 29 in flow com munication between the interior of the keg. and the axial bores 2I and 28 of the valve member I9. Normally, when beer-flow communication between'the interior of the kegs and the spout 35 is shut oil.' or stopped, that is, when the valve member I9 is' in the position illustrated in Figure 4, the port 28 is in flow communication between its member bore 2 I and the body bore II so that if pressure is needed within the keg, all that hasta be done is to remove the cap 21 from the air valve 28, apply a hose to the valve and admit air under pressure, or gas under pressure, to the interior of the keg without having to ac- Atv tuate the valve member I9. As soon as rotative movement is imparted to the valve member I9, in direction to open beer-ow communication between the spout 35 and the interior of the keg, the port 28 is moved out oi register with its body bore II, thus closing air communication between the air valve 26 and the interior of the kegs.

Attached to the barrel valve member I9 adjacent the larger end of the taper thereof is a handle member 38 adapted for oscillating the barrel valve member in the valve body 4. The valve member is extended as at 3| to receive an elbow 32. A nipple 33 annects the elbow 32 with another elbow 34 on the inner end of a spout 35so that the spout may have swinging movement about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the barrel valve member I9 and at the same time the valve member I9 may be swung about its axis.

Figure l illustrates the collapsed position of the dispenser, in which position the beer-flow outlet is closed. This position results from moving the handle 38 from substantially vertical position such as that of Figure 2 to substantially horizontal position as in Figure l which thus swings the barrel valve member I9 about its axis Within the valve body 4 to move the port 29 out of communication with the bore I8 of the valve body thus closing the beer exit from the keg. The spout 35 is then swung to lie along side of the valve body 4 as shown in full lines in Figure l in which position all of the parts of the dispenser lie below the top margin of the chime of the barrel and thus are protected against damage incidental to handling of thekeg or barrel. When in this collapsed position, the spout may be sealed againstL unauthorized movement as, for instance, by a wire 36 passed about the spout and through an opening in a pin 31 secured in the headof the barrel and through an opening 38 in the cap 21 of the air valve. A suitableseal 39 may be used to fasten together the ends of the wire. If desired, Aa revenue stamp or other seal might be pasted over the spout in collapsed position. In either event, the seal has to be broken before the spout 35 can be moved to dispensing position which is that shown in full lines in Figure 2 or dotted lines in Figure l. n

When it is desired to dispense beer from a keg equipped with the dispenser of the present invention, the seal 39 is broken, the wire 35 removed, and the cap 21 removed from the air valve whereupon an air hose.from a pump is applied and pressure created within the keg. When sufilcient pressure has been created the cap is replaced thus making ready the dispenser for use.

When it is desired to dispense beer from the keg,

the handle 38 is actuated to swing the barrel valve member I9 about its axis so that the spout 35 in turn may be swung with its discharge end outwardly of the margin of the barrel whereupon the completion of the movement of the barrel valve I9` to such position as will bring its port into communication with the bore I8 of the valve body 4 thereby establishing communication between the interior of the barrel and the spout 35 whereupon the beer will be' discharged because oi' the presence of pressure within the keg. As soon as the receptacle is lled, theI handle 38 is operated to close the bore I8 against further beer discharge. 'I'hisactuation of the barrel valve I9 is effected as long as any beer remains in the keg. When the keg is empty, the valve may be collapsed and returned to the full line position of Figure 1 whereupon the keg is returned to the brewery for refining. The dispenser of course,

accompanies the keg and remains nxed thereto at all times.

A handle 40 is illustrated as secured to a head of the barrel for lifting and carrying it.

It will be observed that the present invention contemplates a faucet or valve structure applicable to atap bush of a beer barrel for closing the bush in lieu of the usual cork and which structure is adapted to receive an air hose connection for creating pressure within thebarrel, alsoV adapted to dispense the contents of the barrel by reason of the presence of such air pressure.

The closure structure enters into combination with a barrel or keg in such manner asl to serve as a permanent closure for the tap bush and'at the same time provide me'ans whereby the conv tents of the keg or barrel may-be readily withdrawn after sumcient pressure has been created by a pump or like instrumentality, or'air or gas has been applied through the structure of the present invention.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details, .yet the invention is not to be limited thereby as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. In combination, an eighth keg having 'a tap bush in one head, a dispensing faucet structure connected to said bush. said structure comprising a lug member for engaging said bush, a valve body engaging said lug member, said valve' body having a tapered bore extending through it and having a boss with two passages through it communicating with said bore in axially spaced relation to each other, a tapered ground barrel valve member in said tapered bore, said valve member having an endwise bore extending inwardly from the larger end and another endwise bore extending inwardly from the smaller end and a partition axially separating said bores, said valve member having a port for establishing communication between said first bore and one of the passages in said boss and having another port for establishing communication between said second bore and the other of said passages in said boss, said ports being axially and also angularly spaced from each other circumferentially o! said barrel, an elbow connected to said barrel adjacent the larger end thereof, a spout swiveled to said elbow, an air valve connected to the barrel adjacent the smaller end thereof and communicating with the valve member bore at that end of said valve member, a pipe or rod connected to said boss communicating with said one passage thereof, a handle connected to said member for oscillating it, movement of said valve barrel in one direction establishing communication between the bore from the smaller end of said barrel and the interior of the keg through said other passages in said boss and closing communication between said other valve member bore and said one passage in said boss, movement in the opposite direction closing communication between the first bore in said valve member and opening communication between the rod or pipe and the valve member bore from the larger end of said barrel for discharging beer through the spout.

2. A beer barrel assembly including a keg and a dispensing faucet structure removably attached to one head of the keg; said structure including a body having a bore in it and having dual pas sageways opening into the bore for flow commu- 4nication with the interior of the keg; a valve member oscillatable in said bore. said valve member having two axially spaced and extending bores in it, one opening through one end of said member and the other opening through the other 5 end of said member and being out oi' communication with each other; said valve member also having ports from said member bores opening through the side surface o! said member and being clrcumferentially spaced whereby one of said 10 ports is movable into and out of register with one of said dual passageway; and the other of said ports is movable into and out of register with the other of said dual passageways; the arrangement being such that when either port and its 15 member bore are in flow communication with the interior of the keg the other port and its member bore are out of flow communication with the interior of the keg, with both oi' said ports never in flow communication with a keg at the :Z0 same time; and means i'or oscillating said valve member. l

3. A beer barrel assembly including a keg and a dispensing faucet structure removably attached to one head of the keg; said structure including a body having a bore in it and having dual pas- -sageways opening into the bore for flow communication with the interior of the keg; a valve member oscillatable in said bore, said valve member having two axially spaced and extending bores in it, one opening through one end of said member and the other opening through the other end of said member and being out of communication with each other; said valve member also having ports from said member bores opening through the side surface of said member and being circumferentially spaced whereby one of said ports is movable into and out of register with one of said dual passageways, and the other of said ports is movable into and out of register with the other of said dual passageways; the arrangement being suchthat when either port and its member bore are in flow communication with the interior of the keg the other port and its member bore are out oi flow communication with the interior of the keg, with both of said ports never in flow communication with a keg at the same time; means for oscillating said valve member, and one end of said valve member being adapted to receive a hose connection for a supply of gas or air to the keg and the other end of said member having a beer discharge spout on it.

4. A beer barrel assembly including a keg and a dispensing faucet structure removably attached to one head of the keg; said structure including a body having a bore in it and having dual passageways opening into the bore for iiow communication with the interior of the keg; a valve member oscillatable in said bore, said valve member having two axially spaced and extending bores in it, one opening through one end of said member and the other opening through the other end of said member and being out of communication with each other; said valve member also having ports from said member bores opening through the side surface of said member and being circumferentially spaced whereby one of said ports is movable into and out of register with one of said dual passageways, and the other of said ports is movable into and out of register with the other of said dual passageways; the arrangement being such tha*- when 'either port and its member bore are in flow communication with the interior oi' the keg the other port and its member bore are out of flow communicationwith the interior of the ke8. with both of said ports neverln ilow communication with a keg at the same time;J means for oscillating said valve member. one end ot said valve member being adapted to receive a hose connection for a supply of gas or air to the keg and theL other end ot said member having a beer discharge spout on it, and said beer spout consisting of aplurality o! sections, one of which is connected to the valve member and another of which is connected to said rst named section -in a position to swing about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the valve member vwith a third section swiveled to the second mentioned section for swinging action in a plane parallel to the axis of the valve member whereby said spout may be nested within the height of a keg chime when not in use.

5. A valve structure including a body having a bore through it and also having dual passageways opening into said bore, an oscillatable valve plug member in said bore, said valve member having two axially spaced' and extending bores opening through opposite ends of said member, said member also having two substantially radial ports from said member bores opening through the side surface of said member in axially and circumferentially spaced relation, one of said ports adapted to be moved into and out of register with one of said dual passageways and the other of said ports adapted to be moved into and out `of register with the other of said dual passageways as said valve member is oscillated, the

endsot said valve plugmemberbeing adapted to receive connection for flow communication 6. A dispensing faucet structure adapted for 5 removable application to the head oi.' a beer or like keg and having a jointed discharge faucet capable of nesting within the height of the keg chime when not in use and extensible over the chime for use, said structure having a bored body 10 and having dual passages opening into said bore for communicating with the interior of the keg, an oscillatable plug valve member in said bore having spaced and non-communicating bores opening through both ends of said member, said 15 member having a port communicating with one member bore ndv movable into and out of register with one of said dual passageways as said -member is oscillated and having another port CERTIFICATE or CoR'RECTIoN.

Parent No. 2,017,133. l october Is, 193s.

FRANK E. RICE.

y It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedpatent requiring correction as follows: Page'3, first column, line 59, claim 1, for "barrel" read member; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I ,v

Signed and sealed this 26th day of November, A. D. 1935.

[leslie Frazer (Seal)` Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

